On March 14, Kingwood High School's Mighty Mustung Military Marching Band, also known as "KM4B," takes off for Chicago to participate in that city's reknowned Saint Patrick's Day Parade on May 15.
Band director Destry Balch told me the 204 partcipating students are very exicited about the opportunity, which is by invitation only. "It's a pretty big undertaking," he said.
The band applied for a slot in the parade in February 2008, and only recently learned about the selection by the parade's organizers. The application included still photographs of the band in uniform, video and audio tapes of their performances, and a "biography" of the band's numerous awards and accomplishments.
Balch said the band members have been preparing for a year for the trip, even without knowing whether they'd be selected. Since it costs $1,200 per student, many families started payment plans that allowed them to save for the trip little by little.
In additon to student fees, members of the community and local businesses made contributions to help supplement the trip.
"We were going to Chicago, whether we got selected or not," he joked.
The parents who will accompany their students are paying their own way, Balch said. To raise money, many of them have been volunteering over the past year, including working the concession stands at the Toyota Center. Balch said he enjoyed working there during a Mötley Crüe concert.
During the mile-and-a-half parade down Columbus Drive, the K4WB will perform the familiar National Emblem march composed by Edwin Eugene (E.E.) Bagley in 1906. (Check out this YouTube video.) Balch said the piece has a lot of long notes, which will be helpful to the players from Texas.
Read the full story HERE at the Chron.
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